Deploying PSOs where they’re needed most

Victoria Police is introducing a more agile, impactful way to deploy protective services officers on Melbourne's train system.

The change - to begin from this Sunday 19 April - will see PSOs continue to maintain a presence right across the network until the last train each night.

But they will no longer be stuck on platforms at 119 smaller, less busy stations and instead ride the train between these locations.

It provides a more overt, visible presence and means PSOs will be able to deal with incidents as they happen aboard carriages.

The switch also frees up PSOs for more targeted and intelligence-informed deployments where and when we know crime is more likely to occur.

PSO patrols will continue as normal at 73 metropolitan stations and four regional stations.

The presence of PSOs at 32 busier railway stations and known hotspots will increase, with patrols from approximately 9am, data having showed the day is the peak time for crime.

Police intelligence shows crime spikes on the network in mid-morning and in the afternoon.

The changes being detailed today reflect the reality some train stations experience more crime than others.

Data shows 80 per cent of stations have limited criminal activity.

In fact, 79 of Melbourne's more than 200 stations in 2024 recorded no crimes against the person and a further 101 stations had fewer than six such offences recorded.

Categorisation of stations is based on a range of factors including patronage, crime data, police callouts and additional considerations like whether there are licensed venues and shopping centres nearby.

The assessments will be reviewed each year.

Victoria Police also conducts weekly resourcing assessments based on any incidents across the public transport network while contemporary intelligence data is analysed monthly.

The new deployment model will be introduced incrementally, with the entire rollout to be complete in six months.

For further information about PSOs and public transport safety go to police.vic.gov.au/public-transport-safety.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Mick Hermans:

"These changes are about deploying PSOs where and when they’re needed most.

"It makes no sense to have PSOs stuck at smaller, less busy stations when they could have more impact aboard the train at these locations.

"This approach also frees PSOs to conduct more intelligence-led patrols across the network where and when we know crime is occurring.

"That includes during the day when we see spikes in crime in the mid-morning and afternoon, including after school.

"It's important to make clear PSOs will remain out across the network until the last train service each night.

"Patrols at 32 larger, busy stations will actually be extended and remain unchanged at a further 73 stations.

"Crime has changed significantly since PSOs were introduced more than 10 years ago and it's important we change with the times too.

"This approach not only helps us detect crime but stop it happening in the first place."

Media Unit
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